Shooting Pole

[Speck69]

Any advise on length and makes to include reel for a "dock shooting pole". Have seen it demonstrated at shows and have read about it...just wanting some opinions from those who have spent time doing it before I go out and spend some money. Thanks for any input.

[jekhoff]

I just watched an episode of Midwest Crappie where they shoot pontoons. Russ suggests a 6'6'' - 7' medium action. This should allow you to pitch the jig farther, set the hook a little harder, but keep the sensitivity.

[russ]

Two real good poles are the Bucks graphite spinning rod (6 1/2ft), and the 5 1/2 ft. Sharp Shooter. Can't miss with either of these.

Russ

[bigfish5]

i have been shooting docks for years. i have gone through literally dozens of rods and reels. i now have 7 dock shooting rods. i have fine tuned it the way i like it. others may chose differently. just remember you have to chose something that suits you. but may i suggest. a 5ft shakespere rod from academy sports. you can normally find them on sale for about $10.00 and a pinnacle ul20 . they normally have them for about $20.00 so for $30 plus tax you will have a great combo. i started out with 1 of those cheap combo's from walmart and they will work . it just seems that the reels dont last very long. also i would break a couple of rods every year. then i went to ugly stick combo's. they worked well. but the reels were just as cheap as the walmart combo's. the ugly stick rods do hold up well. i still have a few of them that my dad and brother are using. but i dont think they are as sensitive as the shakespere rods from academy. i did tr some of the pfluger ultrs light reels. they are excellent reels. but i like the pinnacle reels just as well and they are less expensive. i think the key is finding a rod that you can shoot well with that is not so expensive that you cant replace it when you break it. because when you shoot docks its not if you are going to break a rod just when are you going tobreak one. i hope this info helps you out. good luck and great fishing

[CrappiePappy]

Any advise on length and makes to include reel for a "dock shooting pole". Have seen it demonstrated at shows and have read about it...just wanting some opinions from those who have spent time doing it before I go out and spend some money. Thanks for any input.

I can't tell you which rod/reel is the best for dock shooting, but I can tell you what I use.
I've shot docks with everything from a 5ft rod to a 8ft rod ... but, I've settled on the 5ft'rs as my primary outfits. This is, however, just a personal choice thing ... as my fishing partner uses a 6ft Berkley Cherrywood :p (and does just fine with it).

My two dock shooting rod/reel outfits :

My older outfit is a 5ft Quantum UL Model 653N rod (2-6lb test line .. 1/64-1/8oz lure) (fixed reel seat/10.5" foam handle) ... Shakespeare Alpha XT1000 (trigger) spinning reel ... 4lb test Stren Gold mono

My newer outfit is a 5' 6" Cabela's ESP Series graphite spinning rod by Six Sense Rods Inc. (pre-production rod that I was given to field test) (no line size or weight range on rod) (7" Tenn handle/graphite w/cork ends) ... Shakespeare Alpha XT 1000 (trigger) spinning reel ... 4lb Mr Crappie Super hi-vis mono

I'm normally shooting a 1/32oz or 1/16oz weedless jighead, with a solid body CrappiePro tube or Panfish Assassin body.

... luck2ya ... cp

[txtider]

i have tried many rods for dock shootin,and the one which has done the best for me is a 51/2 ft bnm dockshooter . the reel i love is a cardinal 101 . i have also just started using vicious panfish hi vis line and love it for the lack of memory ! memory will cause ya to miss fish !

[Darrell Baker]

I have used several different rods for dock shooting in the past but now the only rod I use on our guide trips is the BnM 5 1/2 foot Sharpshooter. This is a very good rod and will really load up to throw the jig under the docks. I can shoot docks with just about any lenght rod but the shorter rod really seems to work better for clients that are just learning this method. The Sharpshooter also seems to be really durable. These rods are really put to the test sometimes on a guide trip and so far we have never had one to break. BnM also makes this rod in a 4 1/2 foot and a 5 foot rod so you have three different lenghts to choose from. I really think this would be a good rod for you and if you are just learning the technique I think you will do much better with the shorter rod. I hope this helps you out...See Ya' on the Water!

Darrell Baker
Weiss Lake Crappie Guides
PO Box 778
Centre, Alabama 35960
Tele/ 256-927-2232
Cell/ 256-557-0129
weiss lake crappie guides

[possumcop]

BnM dock shooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[laserdoc]

wally marshall dock rod from Bass Pro and pfluger president reel. Have had it for 2 years and have caught a ton of fish on it. I use 4 pound test I use 1/32 sickle hooks for shooting. I like to be able to hold onto the hook Just switched to vicious hi viz line so I shall see how it does

[Speck69]

Just wanted to thank everone for the pointers and advise. I now believe that I am headed in the right direction and I really appreciate the input.